Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields

by Victoria Walters

274 pages, Paperback

Published January 13, 2026

About the author

Victoria Walters is a full-time author living in Surrey. Victoria writes sweet and spicy rom coms including the BookTok viral hits THE LOVE INTEREST, THE PLOT TWIST and THE PARIS CHAPTER. She used to work in publishing and a bookshop, and has been a bookworm since childhood.

Victoria is also the author of the bestselling uplifting and romantic series GLENDALE HALL and the cosy crime series THE DEDLEY END MYSTERIES. Find out more about her by following on Instagram at @vickyjwalters, on X at @Vicky_Walters or on Facebook and TikTok at Victoria Walters author.

Her new grumpy/sunshine spicy romance LONG STORY SHORT is out now.

Reviews

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but only an OK read and not engaging enough.

In summary, there was too much book for too little story.

While I enjoyed the Hallmark vibes and farm-life small-town aesthetic, everything felt a bit too simple and feelgood (meant in not a good way). A caricature of a romance read.

I was not invested in Daisy and Blake’s relationship with each other, nor in theirs with others.
Their romantic scenes felt rushed and not in character. When they got together at about 30-40% of the book and I still had so much to read, I knew that it would be slow or painful. It unfortunately was both for me.

The writing style was thankfully better than the other book in this series. At times I did still noticed too much tell don’t show (not great) and a few instances of ‘then we did x, then we did y, and then we did z’, which could have been taken out with some editing.
I scanned most of this one, as I did want to know what happened, but was not locked in enough to really read.

Also, please no shorts for men. Ew.

I would say it is not possible to read this book as a standalone– book one of this series was referenced often and I was surprised how much Willow and Dylan, the FMC and MMC of that book, were featured.

A very small 3 stars, mostly for the cute cover, dog Maple, and ponies Blossom and Jasmine.
I shall probably still read the next one in this series, as I am weak and am a sucker for cute illustrations and seasonal reads.

Thank you to Boldwood Books for inviting me to read this book!

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Rayo Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinion.

I loved being back on Birch Tree Farm! 😍 Both of our MCs are out of tumultuous relationships - our FMC, Daisy, ran from her own wedding, leaving her groom, and our MMC, Blake, caught his girlfriend and business partner cheating on him with 'just a friend'. Their meet cute was a disaster 😅😂 - Blake instantly took a disliking to Daisy and judged her because she arrived on the farm with her wedding dress still on 😅.

Honestly, I wanted more buildup between our characters, more time together... one minute Blake dislikes Daisy, the next minute he's into her and so is she. Before we know it, Daisy's meeting Blake's family. The chemistry between them was something I didn't feel (enough), and the exes... oh my God, they got on my nerves! What was the point of faking a relationship in front of their exes? (cue cringe 😬).

As always, I love the activities on the farm and the community that Birch Tree Farm brings together. Can't wait for the next book in the series! Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

[cakecoffeeandbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️
I really enjoyed book 1 in this series so was looking forward to reading this next installment! It was great to be back at Birch Tree Farm and I was pleased to see so much of Willow again in this story.

Willow’s cousin Daisy leaves her fiance at the alter and heads to Birchbrook to her only family. As she arrives, Blake also turns up to stay with his old friend Dylan (Willow’s boyfriend) but the 2 get off to a frosty start. Once they open up to each other and clear the air they realise they actually have a lot in common with each other, and can support each other.

Both their ex’s turn up a few days later and they pretend to be dating in a bid for them to give them space. I didn’t like either ex and found that storyline became a bit repetitive and frustrating at times.

The fake dating and relationship element of this didn’t really work for me, and as with the previous book I did find the spicier scenes extremely cringy. But I really enjoyed the rest of the story, how they all worked together to create the strawberry trail at the farm and the sense of family and community throughout. I look forward to the next instalment of Birch Tree Farm which looks like it might be festive!

Thank you to the author, Boldwood books and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Caitlin Bunting · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a cosy read this was. I really enjoyed picking this series back up and I loved the character of Daisy she was so well written. Henry on the other hand can do one… I am eager for book 3 to come out later on this year.

[Chloë · Rating 4 out of 5]

4✨

⭑ Publication date: 13th January 2026
⭑ Genre: Romance - Cozy
⭑ Tropes: Country escape, Fake dating, Forced proximity, Second chances, Small town, Slow burn
⭑ For fans of: Laurie Gilmore, Elsie Silver & Lucy Score
⭑ Series: This novel is set in the same village as the other books in the ‘Birch Tree Farm’ series but can be read as a standalone.

✅ If you love small-town charm, slow-burn chemistry and second chances, then this heartwarming story is for you!

~

✧ P L O T ✧

In a bid to escape their nightmarish exes, Daisy & Blake find themselves taking refuge at Birch Tree Farm. With strawberry season approaching, they’re able to keep busy & take a break from their troubling realities. However, it isn’t long before their peace is shattered when the 2 exes they ran from turn up, demanding answers. Impulsively, Daisy & Blake decide that a fake relationship is the answer to all of their problems. But when feelings start to grow & lines begin to blur they’re left facing more questions that they started with.

✧ S U M M A R Y • & • O P I N I O N S ✧

Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields is a comedic cozy romance that will leave you feeling warm & content. It delivers a Hallmark-esque love story, small town feel good vibes & a wholesome romance with the perfect amount of spice.

This is Book 2 in the ‘Birch Tree Farm’ series & although I hadn’t read the first instalment, it was still a really enjoyable read. There were references to the previous instalment but I didn’t feel like it affected my reading experience so please don’t be deterred if you haven’t read book 1!

I loved both Daisy & Blake but I felt like the relationship was a bit jumpy. He took an instant dislike to her but that seemingly changed after not much time/interactions between the two. However, their overall story/journey was so sweet. They helped heal one another & grew both individually & together. The heat was great as it didn’t overpower the heart of this book & I really enjoyed the family/found family & tight knit community feel.

✧ F I N A L • T H O U G H T S ✧

I really enjoyed Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields! The story inside matched up with the cozy, sweet, summery vibes you get from the cover & it was impossible to not get lost in Daisy & Blake’s rollercoaster of a story. It was engaging, hilarious but heartwarming & I would definitely recommend! ☑️

❣️A huge thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books & Victoria Walters for giving me the opportunity to read this ARC. This is my honest opinion & I’m sharing it voluntarily.

[Kelly Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This second instalment in the Birch Tree Farm series completely stole my heart. While I really enjoyed Willow and Dylan’s story, I think Daisy and Blake have just edged it out for me. This story has big 90s romcom energy! Soft, romantic, emotional, and designed to leave you smiling.

Victoria Walters has such a gift for writing romances that feel warm, wholesome and deeply comforting....pure cottage-core escapism with just the right smattering of spice. The emotional connection, personal growth, and healing journeys are front and centre, making the story incredibly relatable and satisfying as a reader.

Birch Tree Farm is a gorgeous setting, bursting with strawberries, flowers and small-town charm. And Blake? A walking collection of green flags: gentle, supportive, quietly swoon-worthy… and let’s just say his praise game is elite. The pacing was spot on! Never rushed, never dragging.

This book is cosy, romantic and impossible not to fall in love with. 💖🍓

If you’re a mood reader, this is your sign. Grab this book, pour a coffee into your cutest mug, wrap yourself in a knitted blanket, find a sunny spot, and let yourself get completely lost at Birch Tree Farm.

Thank you to the author, Love Book Tours for an eARC.

[Dani (piggindani_reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is so happy after reading this. I adored Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow but this one stole my heart. 🥰

Victoria has an amazing way of creating these undeniably beautiful, rich and relatable characters that instantly resonate with you. And storylines that draw you in, pull at your heart and stay with you long after the last word.

Daisy is a fantastic character. I understood her so well. The fear of letting people in only for them to leave (whether by their own choice or being taken from us) is all too real for me so to watch her heal, learn and grow was wonderful and filled me with hope and joy.

Of course I loved Blake even if his first meeting with Daisy wasn’t a typical meet-cute lol he was still just as brilliant with his own pain and journey to go on.
It was also great to have Willow & Dylan back. I love the sound of their farm and wish I could visit. I need some Birch Tree Farm magic in my life. 🌳
I have to admit though, my favourite has to be Uncle Adam. I absolutely adored him and, although he probably won’t have his own story, I do hope he pops up in book 3.

I will be preordering Hope and Hot Chocolate on Mistletoe Lane (book 3 in the Birch Tree Farm series) and, as soon as I can, will also add physical copies of books 1 & 2.

If you love charming, cosy, feel-good stories that bring a smile to your face, hope in your heart and a little spice in your life, then this is the book and series for you.

Each book has its own playlist at the end but I had to use a different song as it fits one of my favourite scenes. 🔭💫

Thank you, LBT, Victoria & Boldwood Ever After, for the ebook of this gorgeous story. ♥️🍓

[Lorraine Dias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Willow and Dylan run Birch Tree Farm, a cozy rural home full of warmth and charm. On her wedding day, Willow’s cousin Daisy realizes that her life is being decided for her, and in a panic, she flees the city for the safety of Birch Tree Farm. Meanwhile, Dylan has offered one of the cottages to his best friend, Blake, who is reeling after discovering his girlfriend’s betrayal. When Blake arrives, he’s far from thrilled to meet a runaway bride.

After a rocky start, Daisy and Blake begin to support each other while navigating the drama of their past relationships. As they help Willow and Dylan prepare for summer, their connection deepens.

This rom-com perfectly captures the feeling of summer, with warmth coming from the rural surroundings, supportive family bonds, budding romance, and a strong sense of community. While lighthearted and humorous, the story also touches on deeper themes—grief, the loss of parents, and the struggle between seeking security and truly living life.

Although Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields is the second book in the Birch Tree Farm series, it works well as a standalone. I’m already looking forward to the next instalment!

Thank you to Victoria Walters, Boldwood Books and Netgalley for the ARC.

[Sara-Jane Keenan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Daisy and Blake end up on Birch Tree Farm after running away from their respective relationships. They both need time to figure out what they want but their exes show up demanding answers. They don’t like each other but they unexpectedly find themselves pretending that they are dating to get their exes off their backs. Cue a slow burn romance with lots of drama.

I did find the story relatable, the doubts, confusion and fear of ending a relationship. The author captured the difficulties of breaking free and starting over again perfectly. That being said though I still found it incredibly frustrating at times and felt like things could have been resolved sooner. The exes were both awful people, which the author did a great job at making them frustrating and unlikeable.

Daisy was also very relatable, I enjoyed her character growth and her journey through self discovery. Blake was handsome, intelligent, caring and protective.

Fake dating is one of my favourite tropes and I was excited that this was in the book. It made sense why they were going to do it but it didn’t really feel like it was necessary in the end because no one believed them anyway so it seemed redundant.

I really loved the setting of this book. Birch Tree Farm sounds gorgeous and I would love to live in a place like that. The pick your own season they were getting ready for sounded like it would be so fun, it’s somewhere I would definitely attend in real life.

The book was easy to read, with a cosy setting and cute animals. There’s mild spice and I enjoyed the slow burn romance. However, I did find it a little too repetitive at times and the characters frustrating so I rate this 3⭐️ 2🌶️

[Bianca Duthie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Birch Tree Farm in book 1 with Willow and Dylan and an autumn theme, so imagine my delight while knee deep in snow to revisit the farm with a summer theme to warm us all up! This time we meet Willow's cousin Daisy and Dylan's old friend Blake, escaping to the farm after a couple of disastrous relationships, which means we also get wonderful updates on Willow, Dylan and Adam too.
I love the magic of the farm, and the work they put into making such wonderful attractions for visitors, its exactly the kind of thing I would love to go and see, it just sounds so picture perfect. Those mischievous ponies also provide much humour.
Daisy and Blake have instant chemistry, even if he might not appear too impressed at first at how he finds her when he arrives at the farm. I love how they both build such a supportive friendship so quickly and how they both have a lot to sort out about their pasts.
I always say I love an epilogue set a little in the future to see how folk are getting on in this kind of book and this does that perfectly.
It's such a lovely, warm, hug of a book, perfect to cosy up with and dream of warmer days. I am looking forward to the next one!

[Riya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for sending me the ADVANCED READERS COPY.

Picnics and Promises at Strawberry Fields is a treat for lovers of summer and for those who aren't afraid to confront life's hardships only to emerge as a better version of themselves through healing. Personally, I adore a cozy romance that ends in a happy ending filled with love, laughter, and strong family bonds.

Daisy and Blake’s first encounter wasn't a traditional "meet-cute", it was something much deeper. For the better part of the story, they acted like mature adults, which provided instant happiness for me as a reader. They were empathetic toward one another from the very beginning (except for that one time!), despite being complete strangers, and Blake’s high emotional intelligence was truly the cherry on top.

This is the perfect book to pick up when you are looking for something that is both simple and charming. The story flows effortlessly, and I didn't encounter any "filler" scenes that disrupted the pacing. It’s a win-win for any romance reader.

xoxo
Riya Upadhyay

[Marie Yarwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a charming and heartwarming story based within feel-good strawberry fields and summer sunshine. The novel is the second instalment to the series but can also be read as a standalone.

The story focuses on Daisy, who finds herself at an emotional crossroad after leaving her fiancé at the altar. She escapes to her cousin’s peaceful farm out in the countryside with her last memories of genuine happiness - which were from before she got with her fiancé Henry. She felt she needed to regroup and figure out what comes next in her new life of freedom. There, she encounters Blake Daniels, a man similarly nursing his own heartbreak, having retreated to the same countryside refuge following betrayal from his girlfriend and walking into the apartment to find her in bed with another man.

When their exes unexpectedly arrive in town demanding answers, Daisy and Blake make an unexpected pact: to pretend they’re in a relationship, keeping their ex partners at bay. BUT is it all an act or true love?

[Samantha Rodriguez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Victoria Walters and Love Books Tours for the opportunity to read and review this book!

If you’re looking at this book and thinking you should pick it up straight off the vibes on the cover, then I can tell you that you won’t be disappointed! What you see is what you get with this one. If you’re expecting sweet, wholesome, cozy, feel-good, Hallmark-style romance, that is exactly what Victoria delivers! This is the second installment in the Birch Tree Farm series, and while I did not read the first one (brb, gonna go do that now), it didn’t keep me from enjoying this book. Do I think I would have understood some things better? Probably, but it wasn’t enough for me to even come close to throwing in the towel. Daisy and Blake were such a fun couple to watch navigate a small-town romance, and there is even a little dash of spice! This book was honestly such a cozy romance that I can see myself picking it back up when I want to escape and be left with a smile.

[Clara · Rating 4 out of 5]

We're back at Birch tree farm and this time we meet Daisy, Daisy has just ditched her fiancé at the alter and fled to the farm, to her cousin Willow so she can decide what her next steps should be.

Blake has just left his life in need of a break after finding out his girlfriend had been cheating on him, lets just say Daisy and Blakes first encounter didn't go so great!

To keep busy they start to help out on the farm so that Willow and Dylan aren't over worked,

When both their exes show up unannounced Daisy and Blake decide wo fake date, expecting it to get the off their backs only....things get a little complicated in the process

This was a lovely slow burn romance and yet another piece of perfection from Victoria Walters! Can't wait to see what she comes up with next

p.s Daisy's ex is the most vile man I've ever read and I'd love to kick him in the shins....that is all!

[Rebecca W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute and cosy, with homely farm feels. Daisy runs back to her family farm on her wedding day. She doesn’t expect to be there and hasn’t been there in a while. But sometimes you just need to be around family, and what better place than the family farm!

What she doesn’t expect is Blake, another broken hearted escapist who is just looking for space. I really enjoyed the wholesome small town vibes, with the fake dating and super slow burn thrown in.

It has the sweetest setting, with family and fun and summer all thrown in. I adored the fact there was a border collie and naughty pony’s for good measure.

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daisy Connor is a runaway bride…escaping to her cousin’s farm. Birch Tree Farm is also the refuge for Blake Daniels, seeking escape from a bad romantic situation. Will this be a second chance for both of them?

This is a sweet (and a bit spicy) telling of finding comfort in the simplicity of the farm. That space gives both Daisy and Blake the opportunity to find what really matters in their lives.

At the beginning of the book, I thought Daisy may be too unsure of herself to move forward. She was feeling incredibly guilty for some of her choices and really dwelled on them. Slowly, she gained confidence, enjoyed the nostalgia of her time on the farm and let new memories be made.

This is an enjoyable, quick read. Snuggle up and have fun reading this cozy country romance.

[Emma H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another heartwarming read in this series. I loved revisiting the farm and catching up with what Willow and Dylan were up to. The new characters are just as headstrong but endearing as the previous book and the little town is as charming as ever. Will the Summer plans be as successful as the pumpkin patch? Will Willow’s cousin find her own happiness? You need to read to find out. Can’t wait for the next book

[Leanne (Queen_and_the_wolf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cosy heart warming read. I devoured this in one sitting.
I thoroughly enjoyed spending time at Birch Tree Farm with Daisy, Blake and the ex’s.
The pacing is good there aren’t any slow patches throughout the story.
The characters are created well. Each of them having a great personality.
The scenery and villages have been written with great detail making it all easy to envision.
If you love forced proximity, second chances and slow burn with a sprinkle of spice then this one is for you.

Looking forward to reading the next book in this series

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was lovely to read. I read this as an ARC. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read this. This book reminds me a bit of Laurie Gilmore books😍😍😍. This felt like a cozy romance read. I enjoyed it.

[Faiza BEGUM · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first time reading Victoria Walters and honestly this won’t be my last time.

I’ve enjoyed this book so much that I finished it in one go without putting it down. And I for sure gonna re read this book again and again.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/3.5 stars

This is my first step into the Birch Tree Farm series, and honestly, this was what I needed.

This was a very easy and sweet palette cleanser with charming small-town vibes. Definitely recommend if you love second-chance romance mixed with slow-burn.

Would definitely look into going back and reading the first in the series and the future instalments.

Thank you NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Victoria Walters for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Gales Tales70 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute adorable book. Based on a farm and village life. Daisy leaves her posh husband to return back to the farm to be with her family and to find and love herself. She stays and catches up with her cousin Willow and boyfriend. She bumps into Blake, who has also just split up from his girlfriend in the city

A story of love, slow burn romance and second chances, the second in the series.

I really enjoyed the storyline and whilst it focused primarily on Daisy and Blake, it was lovely to be back with Willow and her family

Thanks to Netgalley and Lovebooktours for the early arc